[Warranties-For-Less]

Originally Posted by monchi

The reason they are so hated is because most of them are centered on getting IBO's - distributors , but not customers. Which customers are the ones that make money for a company comman sense, not a bunch of IBOS sending money through the downline.

Interesting subject,

Having researched thousands of businesses, MLM and traditional, one think remains consistent, most people fail in their own business, and for good reason, they are all sold a false bill of goods, like the get rich quick claim so many use to induce new distributors. So you are correct, most focus on recruiting over selling their service or product.

When researching companies, very few in the MLM arena sell a service or product of true verifiable value. This is why MLMers fail, unless you are a super salesperson, or super recruiter, you will not even break even from your monthly autoship cost which most MLM's require in order to earn commisisons.
This is why most fail, if they don't see what they were hyped into believing when they started in three months, they quit, and often never look at MLM again. We all know in the industry, quitters never win, and winners never quit, and most people never learn this before they go into any business.

If anyone goes into any business thinking they are going to make a profit in first year, think again, it won't happen for 99% of those in any business, even MLM. Yes, we all hear about the big earners, and there are many in this world who have made six figures plus in MLM, but I bet most on this board never met one. lol Most in the trenched promoting off of someone elses dream income will never see it themselves for they are selling the dream, or in some cases, the scheme.

It all starts with the service or product, if you cannot verify sales being made outside of distributors, then run, don't walk away. If you are looking for a long term business, MLM or not, then look at the value of your product first and foremost. Without value, there is no business. Without retail sales, there is no business, it is that simple. Like in all businesses, some will come, some will go, but only those with true value will survive long term. I don't care what kind of incomes you here, or how goof the compensation plans are, it still all comes back to value. Don't waste your time unless this passes the acid test of value to retail customers.

Good luck to all, Mike

[LindsayPPL]

I am an independent associate in a MLM company. I have been with this company for 6 years and have been nothing but pleased with it. The company I am with is not some "fly by night" company - it is a 36 year old NYSE company. I ask all of you who have spoken negatively about MLM companies - how many of the companies you work for or have started are publicly traded on the NYSE and have been debt free with record growth for the past 14 consecutive years?

I read in someone's post that MLM members are not "real entrepreneurs." How ridiculous. I am full-time with my business and can you that I most certainly work - but it is on my time and my schedule. What - so we're not real entrepreneurs because we're not working like a dog, around the clock, and investing tons of capital like so many of you?

And let's take a serious look at the so called pyramid scam of MLM... Can anyone name something in our society that is not like a pyramid? Look at our government - President at the top, then Congress, Senate, state policymakers, on down to the general public. Look at any company - the CEO, then president, vice presidents, directors, managers, and workers. Practically every thing in our society is in the structure of a pyramind. The fact is that how many people in our society will ever have the ability to move to one of the top ranks of the pyramid - not many, but MLM allows for that be a reality.

[mpotekhen]

I have to agree with many of the comments made here. I was very skeptical about network marketing until I started reading many of Robert Kiysaki's books. The thing about network marketing for me was that I did not want to sell a product that I would not use myself. I think that network marketing teaches you how to fail faster and that is so important if you talk to 100 people 99 of them will tell you to f off and that is what I like about it. I know it sounds stupid but it really teaches you to not take things personally.
There are many people who have made a great deal of money with the business and the reason they are able to do this is because of leverage.
The final thing that I like about the business is that you do not have to take a huge financial risk to get started you just have to get out and work hard. I think everyone in business can appreciate this. If you believe that you will get rich quick then you are not getting involved with a true network marketing company you are getting involved in a scam or a pyramid scheme.

[oneyearsixfigures]

I agree with what a lot of people are saying on this thread...

Network Marketing is a real business, but tons of people get in it because of the hype, they think they can join and overnight become a millionaire.
They don't understand network marketing is a process, you have to work on yourself before you can ever become a success in network marketing.

The business is very simple, but you have to do things step by step, you can't just skip to the top you have to walk! This applies to every legitimate MLM company out there, you can start today with any one of them and go to the top, even the ones that have been around for years.

Most people get into the business to try it out, they fail because they never treated it like a business in the first place and then all of the sudden it was a scam. They blame everyone and everything from the company, the product, and even their upline, anything to take the blame off of themselves.

It takes leadership to be successful and a good leader started off as an excellent follower.

[rejoice]

that's right... people take the opportunity to join an mlm because they promise the world... in doing so... the person takes it for granted and relies on the mlm to make them money... and when they fail miserably have someone to blame other than themselves...

ofcourse this leads to bad mouthing companies because in actual fact... expectations are unreasonable compared to the effort exerted... einstein said e=mc2 ... business is the same... an exact formula... you have to be prepared to invest time and money and a whole lot of directed effort... do you let adversity affect you?

[vacationofwealth]

If you wouldnt buy the product without the business opportunity attached to it , then you shouldn't join that program. You need to stand behind the product. Bottom line. Value is the bottom line to being successful. Show people value whether it is a 3 dollar product or a 3000 product you then give yourself a chance.

[adam_haroun]

I agree with what everyone here is saying...I also wanted to add my own 2 cents.

The sad fact is that many people dislike or don't respect MLM simply because they don't full y understand the business model of the industry.

To someone who is misinformed, sure, MLM can easily look like a "pie in the sky pyramid scheme".

It's essential for someone to be PROPERLY INFOMRED about MLM and the Network Marketing industry before they make an opinion on whether or not they wish to pursue, or discredit the business model.

On one level or another, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, and even AOL Time Warner have all used some form of referral or network marketing model to promote products and create "buzz".

...they just don't pay the average Joe for their efforts

I believe a couple people already mentioned this website...but check out http://www.firstclassmlm.com and learn more about MLM from a balanced, unbiased perspective.

[adddirectory]

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[invstr74]

aside from the business being a pyramid either way you look at it; legitimate or not, you get lost in what you're selling - the product itself or the idea of making money.

[rejoice]

People do not join a business, they join YOU! People have a subconscious attraction to others who convey leadership qualities and a high level of personal value. If you want to make it big in networking (OR ANYTHING IN LIFE), you must learn to convey those qualities, and eventually become a leader with value to offer others.

Group 3: Typically have very little confidence or value to offer others, so they simply flock to those who do have it in hope that it will rub off. They are essentially unsure of themselves or still uncomfortable with the idea of being a leader, and live in a state of reaction where life events and other people dictate their rules and reality. It's usually someone else's fault!

Group 2: Have the vision, courage, and willingness to lead themselves through adversity and challenge. If you cannot first lead yourself through struggles, how can you expect others to eventually follow you?

Group 1: People whom others want to be. Leaders that are sought after and pursued! They are attractive to others, and success comes easily. Leaders radiate confidence and are not concerned with outside criticism, they know exactly what they want and focus their energies on achieving their goals.